BlackEarth Minerals NL (ASX:BEM) and Metachem have signed a Non-Binding MOU, to commence plant construction and the production of Expandable Graphite, with the intention to complete and sign an operational Joint Venture (JV) agreement within a maximum of 180 days.
Expandable graphite is a form of intercalated graphite and is produced by a process in which an intercalant material is inserted in between graphene layers of generally course flake graphite in a process referred to as ‘exfoliation’.
Subsequent heating of the intercalated material causes the intercalant material (expandable graphite) to expand and drive the graphene layers of the graphite apart and thus create expanded graphite.
When treated, graphite flakes split apart and increase in volume by up to 300 times. This “expanded graphite” can be pressed into sheets and used for heat and fire protection in applications ranging from building materials to consumer electronics and fuel cells.
Approximately 35% of expandable graphite production is processed into fire retardants. This is the single biggest end market for expandable graphite. The remaining product is processed into flexible graphite which is the precursor to a number of end products such as graphite foils for use in the automotive, EV and alternative energy sectors.
When treated, graphite flakes split apart and increase in volume by up to 300 times. This “expanded graphite” can be pressed into sheets and used for heat and fire protection in applications ranging from building materials to consumer electronics and fuel cells.
In addition to fire resistant building materials, expanded graphite is an important pre-cursor for the manufacture of flexible graphite foils and papers which provide very light weight heat dispersion and shielding properties. The low density expanded graphite is rolled and compressed into thin flexible sheets which provide high heat, corrosion and compression resistance. Graphite foils are incorporated in many mobile electrical devices to safely disperse heat away from the battery source.
The Global Expandable Graphite Market is expected to grow from US$202.8m in 2020 to around US$351. 9 million by 2027.
BlackEarth Managing Director, Tom Revy, said such growth and demand for a range of products and applications provides BlackEarth with an enormous opportunity.
This is a ground breaking agreement between two Companies committed to the growth and development of this important high value commodity to fuel the world wide demand for downstream graphite products,” Mr Revy said.
“The BEM Executive team have been in discussions with the Directors of Metachem for some time now and we are impressed with their professionalism, technical expertise and market presence in the world’s largest democracy.
“This planned production site complements our other interests in the USA and Europe, and further positions BlackEarth as a leading provider of graphite concentrate and a range of down stream graphite products over the forthcoming decades.
“Our partner in Europe (LuxCarbon) will play an instrumental role in this development as we, with their support, plan to sell this highly valued product to a range of existing and new buyers in developing and growth markets throughout Europe.
“Both companies are already working toward concluding an operational Joint Venture agreement within the next few months”.
Other key elements of the MOU are –
- BlackEarth are to source, in conjunction with their Sales and Marketing partner LuxCarbon, high quality graphite concentrate for treatment for the new expandable graphite plant
- Following completion of its own plant, BlackEarth will provide large and jumbo flake graphite to the JV
- Each JV partner proposes a 50/50 equity and profit share arrangement with CAPEX estimated to be US$3.5m in total
- BlackEarth and LuxCarbon to provide end user and product technical advice to the Metachem operational team
- BlackEarth and LuxCarbon will manage sales, marketing and the growth of sales worldwide.
- Estimated initial production to be 2,000tpa growing to 4,000tpa, with plans to develop other plants in Europe and other strategic locations.
- BlackEarth estimates Gross JV Revenue of US$6.25m initially, growing to over US$13m upon production ramp up to 4,000t pa
- Production sites have been identified and appropriate economic, social and environmental conditions have initially been assessed as highly favourable.
- The production site is within the Indian Special Economic Zone “SEZ) which offers a range of economic, taxation and other concessions which adds substantially to the projects valuation.
